NEO-BUDHISM

Neo-Budhism

Material world can and will only be understood by scientific knowledge. With below superstitions nothing can be solved. So keep away...

1. Do not say that foxes or badgers deceive or possess people.
2. There is no such thing as winged goblins.
3. There is no such thing as curses.
4. Do not believe in dubious ritual prayers.
5. Do not trust in the efficacy of magic or holy water.
6. Do not put your trust in divination, whether by written oracles, physiog-nomy, geomancy, astrology, or ink stamp.
7. It is wrong to be concerned with omens and auspicious or inauspicious days.
8. Do not otherwise believe in anything that is generally similar to these above mentioned  things.

As can be seen in the above quotation, religion’s domain is the spiritual world and this spiritual world has no direct power over material existence. Thus, the miraculous is impossible and prayers for this world’s benefits are nothing but superstitions. This provides the basis for Inoue’s dismissal of prayer rituals, magic, and charms. While he acknowledges that these types of prayer are one of the foundations of popular religion, he dismisses them as rooted in ignorance, writing “The true sentiments of the curses and prayers the ignorant peasants  direct toward their buddhas and gods, are generally nothing but good health, longevity, lack of illness and prayers for good fortune”. Yet, neither kami nor buddhas can grant these boons. Thus popular religion is not in fact a religion at all but instead largely a superstition.

Inoue, Budism...